Anchor.



PATENTED NOV. 28, 1905.

F. E. FORSTER.

ANCHOR.

APPLICATION rum) JAN. 20, 1905.

- low/ m FERDINAND E. FORSTER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y. ANCHOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 28, 1905.

Application filed January 20, 1905. Serial No. 241,968.

1'0 ctZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FERDINAND E. FORSTER, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of New York, borough of Manhattan, in the county and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Anchors, of which the following is aspecification. a

The invention relates to means for freeing the anchor from rocks, sunken wreckage, and the like, and particularly for disengaging the anchor from telegraph-cables without breaking or otherwise injuring the latter.

The object of the invention is to provide means by which the before-mentioned releasing functions may be performed through the usual anchor-cable and without material alteration of the anchor.

The invention consists in certain novel features and details of construction by which the.

above objects are attained.

The accompanying drawings form a part of this specification and show a preferred form of the invention.

Figure 1 is aside view of an anchor equipped with the releasing devices; and Fig. 2 is a horizontal section through the shank on the line2 2 in Fig. 1, showingthe arms and flukes of the anchor, with the attached releasing devices in plan view, certain portions being omitted.

Similar letters of reference indicate the same parts in both figures.

A is the shank of an ordinary ships anchor, and A is the ring to which the'cable A (shown as a chain) is attached; B, the stock; C C, the arms, and D D the flukes, all of which may be as usual.

The releasing devices for both arms are alike, and a description of one will suffice.

A bar of fiat metal is bent in the center to form a saddle E, lying astride the arm U adjacent to the fluke D, the ends being folded or bent at a right angle to the saddle to form the legs E E, extending parallel with the arm, one on each side thereof, beneath the fluke and projecting a little beyond the latter. The extreme ends receive a pin E also extending through -a lug F between them, cast on the under face of an auxiliary fluke F, narrower than the fiuke D upon which it lies, with its pointed end extending beyond the point of such fluke.

The inner end of the auxiliary fluke is bent upward at F above the saddle E and has an opening f, in which is received a ring or link F These parts are assembled by first placing the saddle E and its legs E in position relatively to the anchor-arm C and fluke D and then inserting the pin E through the ends of the legs and through the lug F on the auxiliary fluke F. Thusconnected the auxiliary fluke may tilt on the pin, and both parts are loosely held to the arm O, the fluke D preventing the disengagement of the saddle and auxiliary fluke from the anchor until the pin is again withdrawn.

Encircling each arm 0 near itsjunction with the shank is a clamp G, held firmly in place by a bolt G extending through the upwardlyprojecting ends Gr of the clamp. At the extremities of the ends is a hole or opening g, receiving a cord H, tying the clamp G and link F together and holding the parts normallyin the position shown in the full lines in Fig. 1, the auxiliary fluke F lying upon the face of the main fluke D.

From each link F a chain J extends upwardly, the two ends passing oppositely through the anchor-ring A to insure uniformity of direction. and both are joined to'a link A in the cable A at some distance above the attachment of the latter to the anchorring. Thus arranged the anchor serves as usual, excepting that the auxiliary flukes F F also engage the bottom. In raising t e anchor the lifting strain from the cable A is received by the lighter chains J J and transmitted to the cords H H, the strength of which is suificient to permit the anchor to be lifted in the normal condition unless the anchor be foul of an obstruction, the lower end of the cable A remaining slack and ineffective.

In case the anchor is foul by reason of the engagement of one of the auxiliary flukes beneathan overhanging rock or the like or below a telegraphic cable the anchor resists the lifting strain until the pull on the cable A and chains J J is sufiicient to break the relatively weak cords H H and tilt the auxiliary flukes on the pins E into the angular position indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 1, such movement tending to force the anchor away from the obstruction and presenting the auxiliary flukes at such an angle that a submerged cable will slide freely from the fluke and the anchor may be raised without ther engagement with the same or other obstruction.

The main cable A is attached, as usual, to the anchor-ring and serves reliably to secure the anchor and in the event of failure of the danger Orin;

releasing devices to free the anchor permits the full force of the capstan or other Windlass to be exerted, if desired.

It will be observed that trip-levers or other locking devices operated by independent cords or the like extending from the vessel to the anchor are avoided and that under ordinary conditions the anchor equipped with my improved releasing devices will operate in all respects as usual, the devices exercising their functions only when required.

Modifications may be made in the forms and proportions of the parts as may be found necessary or desirable in adapting the device to various sizes and styles of anchors.

Although I have described the breakable fastening between the link I and clamp Gas of cord, it will be understood that it may be a chain, Wire, rope-yarn, or other material adapted to part when the strain becomes excessive.

The clamp Gr may be diflerently located or omitted. Any suitable eye on any portion of the shank or arm of the anchor will serve to receive the weak connection H and hold the auxiliary fluke to the main fluke.

I claim-- 1. In an anchor, a fluke connected to the anchor-arm by a hinge at the outer end of said fluke, a connection from the inner end of said fluke to the cable, and a relatively Weak connection from said inner end to a fixed portion of said anchor.

2. An auxiliary fluke adapted to lie upon the main fluke of an anchor and connected to the anchor-arm by a hinge, a connection from the inner end of said auxiliary fluke to the cable, and a relatively weak connection from said inner end to a fixed portion of said anchor.

3. A saddle adapted to engage the arm of an anchor, an auxiliary fluke adapted to lie normally upon the upper face of the main fluke of such anchor and hinged to extensions from said saddle beneath said main fluke, a flexible connection from said auxiliary fluke to the anchor-cable, serving to tilt said auxiliary fluke relatively to said main fluke, and a relatively weak connection between said auxiliary fluke and the anchor.

I. A saddleE adapted tolie upon an anchorarm at the junction of the latter with its fluke, legs E extending outwardly from said saddle and beneath said fluke, a pin joining the ends of said legs, an auxiliary fluke F lying upon said main fluke and having a lug F engaged by said pin, a link F at the inner end of said auxiliary fluke, a flexible connection J from said link to the cable and passing through the anchor-ring, a clamp G secured to the anchorarm, and a tie between said link and clamp, Weaker than said flexible connection and adapted to be broken by excessive strain on the latter.

In testimony thatI claim the invention above set forth I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FERDINAND E. FORSTER.

I/Vitnesses:

OHAs. A. HAUoK, CHARLES R. SEARLE. 

